SYCAMORE | Sycamore employees were honored for a combined 300 years of service at Monday night’s city council meeting.

The honorees were awarded for their landmark five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service. Among them were Police Chief Don Thomas, Assistant City Manager Brian Gregory and Human Resources Director Jean Tritle.

The council discussed the recent “thundersnow” and how the city prepared to combat the 14 to 18 inches that fell.

“The challenge of the particular storm is to protect life, limb and property,” said Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy. “A lot of hours have been expended.”

City Manager Bill Nicklas said there were enough people and equipment to clear the snowfall that started late Thursday night.

“We had 86 calls for service and only 10 accidents,” Thomas said. “The snow ordinance [states to] issue tickets at two inches, but we didn’t start until 2 p.m.”

Police issued about 100 tickets and towed two cars.

The council also agreed to stop distributing courtesy tickets in the downtown area for expired meters during the holiday shopping season. The decision was based on Sycamore’s problem this past year with workers and residents of the downtown area using the metered parking spaces, instead of the intended shoppers.

On the night’s agenda were six first readings of ordinances.

One ordinance included a levy that would lead to a decrease in the corporate tax, from $0.96 per $100 to $0.89 per $100 equalized assessed value (EAV).

Another proposed ordinance would end the Debt Service Levy for the 2002, 2003 and 2005 General Obligation Bond Issue. Two separate proposals offered to abate certain real estate revenue due to Sycamore.

All six ordinances were on first reading and the council will take further action at their next meeting on Dec. 18.

Katie Trusk is a Sycamore Government reporter for the Northern Star.